Arnold Clark.... what's the scam??

enuforedy

Recently did a deal at an Arnold Clark branch to buy a used car. My own car is being part exchanged and the personal reg transferred over.

The salesman stated that before he could tax the car or initiate the plate transfer he required certificate of insurance / covernote for the car. I duly contacted my insurance company and arranged for the insurance to be changed over on the date agreed, 10 days after the sale was agreed. A certificate has been sent to the dealer.

Now, the salesman has told me the transfer etc will take 7 to 10 days. I think this is what DVLA quote when doing this by post, however surely the dealer can attend at the DVLA local office and tax the new car and transfer the reg on the spot (he has the V5 for the 'old' car). They can also tax the car on their traders policy, though I was told that for legal reasons they need to see an insurance certificate. (This new certificate obviously has the same reg on it as the old one!).

I'm wondering what the angle is here? My next finance payment isn't due on my old car until the end of the month so they're not getting more for the p/x by stalling the deal. The new finance has been accepted.

Anyone have any ideas why they're doing this? Are they stalling the deal to make / save money? Am I just being cynical?

flutterbyuk25

Numberplate transfers take 7-10 working days to be processed at the local DVLA office. It's no longer an over the counter service.

x

Lemonade_Pockets

Why is everything with dealers a scam?

He's telling you the truth, get over it!

harveybobbles

Why should us dealers waste our time at the tax office for your stupid plates? It's personalised. To you. you deal with it!! Jesus...

Yes we can tax cars on our insurance, but when a preivate number is involved its different.

I just give everything to the customer to sort out as my time is too valuable to waste and life is too short...

zappahey

Lemonade_Pockets wrote: »

Why is everything with dealers a scam?

They're not called Arnold Shark for nothing. If I shook hands with an Arnold Clark salesman, I'd be counting my fingers.

oldagetraveller

But on this occasion there's no "scam" is there? Maybe AC are not the best dealership around and in this particular case are working to DVLA limitations.
I'm with harvey. Sort out the vanity plate yourself if it's that precious!

vikingaero

Definitely no scam here and the OP is being cynical.

The dealer requires the V5C, MOT (if any) and a cert of insurance for the transfer to go through. It's not a dealer requirement. And at flutters has said it is no longer an over the counter service - you can hand the documents in over the counter though.

Lemonade_Pockets

From lucky number slevin.
My father used to say: "The first time someone calls you a horse you punch him on the nose, the second time someone calls you a horse you call him a jerk but the third time someone calls you a horse, well then perhaps it's time to go shopping for a saddle."

The problem dealers have it doesn't matter what you say or do the customer thinks your lying. In my experience most people start of in the trade being honest and wanting to break away from the stereotype. A lot then give up after they are constantly called cheats lairs etc by the public, coupled with the fact you wouldn't beleive some of the porky's customers tell. So they b#llocks i might as well have a easy life and make more money by living up to the stereotype.

This is a prime example, the salesperson is trying to help out the customer at great expense to themselves. The OP then somehow thinks this a scam based on nothing but half cocked idea's non of which are accurate, but are rationalised by the over riding predjudice against the motor trade.

gingerdad

enuforedy wrote: »

Recently did a deal at an Arnold Clark branch to buy a used car. My own car is being part exchanged and the personal reg transferred over.

The salesman stated that before he could tax the car or initiate the plate transfer he required certificate of insurance / covernote for the car. I duly contacted my insurance company and arranged for the insurance to be changed over on the date agreed, 10 days after the sale was agreed. A certificate has been sent to the dealer.

Now, the salesman has told me the transfer etc will take 7 to 10 days. I think this is what DVLA quote when doing this by post, however surely the dealer can attend at the DVLA local office and tax the new car and transfer the reg on the spot (he has the V5 for the 'old' car). They can also tax the car on their traders policy, though I was told that for legal reasons they need to see an insurance certificate. (This new certificate obviously has the same reg on it as the old one!).

I'm wondering what the angle is here? My next finance payment isn't due on my old car until the end of the month so they're not getting more for the p/x by stalling the deal. The new finance has been accepted.

Anyone have any ideas why they're doing this? Are they stalling the deal to make / save money? Am I just being cynical?

i don't know on that front but did by a car from arnold clark a couple of years ago and the salesman used various shady tactics on the finance i.e. flat rate/apr, trying to change the price when i decided not to go for their finance, i wouldn't go near them ever again. there was for a while a great website www arnoldsucks com not sure if its still live.

GD

enuforedy

Flutterbyuk25 / vikingaero: Thanks, your polite, concise replies clear my query up.

I guess I am just cynical, wrongly on this occasion, obviously.

Lemonade Pockets: "This is a prime example, the salesperson is trying to help out the customer at great expense to themselves. The OP then somehow thinks this a scam based on nothing but half cocked idea's non of which are accurate, but are rationalised by the over riding predjudice against the motor trade.".... Agreed, my thoughts were based on a form of prejudice against the motor trade, I apologise for any offence caused, however the "great expense" you refer to is the dealer offering to complete the transfer on my behalf, with money I pay to them to fund this. They then complete some paperwork and post it to DVLA on my behalf. Then possibly attend the LVLO to complete the transaction. At the end of the day I'm a customer and they are selling me a car, yes it's time consuming for them but this is offered as part of their service.